Simba win at last as Azam close the gap

Dar es Salaam. Hamis Mcha hit a brace to lead Azam FC to a 4-0 thrashing of clueless JKT Ruvu in a Vodacom Premier League match at the Chamazi Stadium yesterday.The victory takes the Chamazi moneybags level on points with league leaders Yanga who have 36 points, but have a game in hand.

John Bocco and Abdi Kassim scored other goals to leave the army owned outfit cutting frustrating figures at the end of the game.In Mbeya, Simba bounced back to a winning way, albeit with a wafer-thin victory of 1-0 over hosts Tanzania Prisons at Sokoine Stadium.

Simba, who struggled throughout the match to contain the spirited wardens, held on to the solitary goal scored by Amri Kiemba in the 26th minute.This is the second victory for the Msimbazi giants in four outings, which takes them to 31 points, five adrift of Yanga and Azam.

At Chamazi, Azam had no mercy on relegation threatened JKT Ruvu with Mcha registering his name on the score sheet barely two minutes into the game.

The Zanzibar striker lashed onto a Hamid Mao’s cross to coolly slot the ball past a hapless Shaaban Dihile.
Azam continued to haunt the visitors with an attacking brand of soccer, but a counterattack in the 10th minute gifted JKT Ruvu a penalty after goalkeeper Mwadini Ali fouled Samuel Kamuta in the area.

However, hopes of a quick equaliser went up in smoke after Kisimba Luambano fired straight to the shot-stopper

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The visitors gained momentum after 15 minutes, but their attacks were well dealt by Azam defenders.

JKT Ruvu had a lion’s share of possession midway through the first half with Mussa Mgosi missing a host of chances.
In the 34th minute, Mgosi went close to drawing parity after being set up by Luambano, but with Ali to beat, he lofted the ball over the crossbar.

JKT Ruvu paid for their profligacy in the 45th minute when Humphrey Mieno threaded the ball through to Bocco and the latter planted it home with ease.

The teams went to the breather with the home side enjoying a 2-0 lead. Azam picked form where they had left and took the score beyond JKT Ruvu’s reach in the 46th minute through Mcha.

After the goal, JKT Ruvu came into the game with some telling attacks, but kept missing the target through Samwel Kamuta, Mgosi and Hussein Bunu.

In the 72nd minute, Azam sealed the score through Kassim whose long range screamer gave Dihile no chance.
Azam face a test of character on Saturday when they face Yanga at the National Stadium.
Yanga, who have enjoyed relatively easy fixtures over the past two weeks, had their coaches Ernie Brants and Fred Minziro at Chamazi.

source:thecitizen.co.tz